The most tragic romantic storyline is not unrequited love; it is triangulated love, where the mother is the silent third person in every argument, every decision, every moment of passion.

We often dismiss the "mother complex" as outdated psychoanalysis, but modern attachment theory has resurrected it with empirical data. Your mother was your first regulator. When you cried, did she pick you up quickly and soothe you, or did she let you "cry it out"? When you were scared, did she provide a secure base to explore from, or was she the source of the fear?

What does a romantic storyline look like when it is free from the shadow of the mother? It is quieter than you think. There is no frantic texting. There are no power games. There is no need to prove your worth.